Posada RSVP Wording

A posada is generous by nature. The door is open, the ponche keeps coming, and there is always room for one more cousin. But generosity still needs numbers. The host has to decide how many dozen tamales to order or make, how big a pot of ponche to simmer, how many aguinaldo bags to fill for the children and how many chairs to borrow. That is what the RSVP is for.

This guide focuses only on the reply part of a posada invitation: the lines that ask for answers, the deadline, the questions about children and dishes, and the follow-ups. For the main invitation text, see posada invitation wording; for the full timeline, the posada planning checklist.

Featured TwistInvite DesignsLas Posadas FiestaA colorful fiesta design from TwistInvite's posada folder.

Why posadas need a headcount

At many family and neighborhood posadas, the guest list grows by word of mouth. That is part of the charm, but it can leave the host short of food. Asking for a reply, even informally, helps with four things:

A useful rule for tamales is two to three per adult and one or two per child, plus a dozen extra for the people nobody told you were coming. For ponche, plan about two cups per person over the evening.

How to ask: reply lines

Place the RSVP line right after the date, time and place. Choose the tone that fits your gathering.

Warm and family-style

Please let us know if you're coming and how many of you, so we can make enough tamales for everyone.

With a deadline

Kindly reply by Sunday, December 13, so we can order tamales and fill the aguinaldos.

Asking about children

When you reply, tell us how many children are coming; every child gets an aguinaldo bag.

For a potluck posada

Reply on the link and tell us what you'll bring: a dish, dessert, drinks or bolillos.

For a neighborhood or church posada

Families on our street, please reply by December 14 so we can plan the procession route and the ponche.

For the office

Please reply by December 11 so catering can confirm the tamal order.

On a TwistInvite invitation, guests tap Going, Can't make it or Maybe and can add a short message. They do not need an account, and email is optional, which makes it easy for older relatives and neighbors to answer from a phone.

Setting the deadline

Work backwards from your food order. Many tamal makers need orders four to seven days before pickup in December, because the posada season is their busiest time. Set the RSVP deadline a few days before that.

If you are making tamales yourself at a tamalada, set the deadline even earlier so you know how much masa to buy.

Follow-up messages

A posada usually needs two follow-ups: a gentle nudge to those who have not answered, and a practical reminder for those who have.

Nudge, four or five days before the deadline:

Hi! We're counting tamales for Saturday's posada. If you haven't replied yet, please let us know on the link by Sunday 🙏

Personal message to a relative who never replies:

Tía, are you and Tío coming on the 19th? Just need to know for the tamales. ¡Los esperamos!

Practical reminder, the day before:

¡Mañana es la posada! The procession starts at 7:00 from the corner, so please arrive by 6:45. Bring a candle if you have one; we'll have extras.

Last-minute updates:

We have plenty of tamales, so if a friend wants to come, bring them along!

Wording for Maybe and No replies

Some guests answer Maybe because they have several posadas on the same night, which is common in the season. You can ask lightly:

If you think you'll stop by later in the evening, choose Maybe and we'll save you some ponche.

For guests who cannot come, a warm reply keeps the door open:

We'll miss you! There's another posada at the Morales house on the 22nd; we'll see you there.

When the guest list grows on its own

Posadas are famous for guests who bring guests. A cousin brings her new boyfriend, a neighbor brings visiting relatives, and suddenly there are thirty more people than replies. You cannot fully prevent it, and in the spirit of the tradition you probably do not want to. But the invitation can set expectations kindly:

Friends and family are welcome! If you're bringing extra people, just add them to your reply so we can plan enough food.

For a smaller posada with limited space, be honest:

Our house is small, so this year we're keeping it to the people on this invitation. Thank you for understanding.

Either way, keep a backup: a dozen frozen tamales, a second bag of oranges for the aguinaldos and an extra pack of cups cover most surprises. Leftover tamales freeze well, so over-ordering slightly is rarely a waste.

Reply wording in Spanish and English

Many posada invitations go to families who speak Spanish, English or both. A bilingual RSVP line is simple and welcoming:

Favor de confirmar antes del 13 de diciembre · Please reply by December 13.

¿Cuántos vienen? Tell us how many adults and children are coming.

Keep both versions short so the line does not crowd the invitation.

Using the headcount

Once you have the replies, turn them into a simple shopping list:

1. Tamales: adults × 2.5 + children × 1.5, then round up by a dozen.
2. Ponche: total guests × 2 cups. A 20-quart pot makes roughly 75 to 80 cups.
3. Aguinaldos: one per child, plus five extra for latecomers.
4. Candles and song sheets for the procession: one per person who will walk.
5. Chairs and cups: total guests, plus 10 percent.

For a work event, share the final numbers with the caterer and the facilities team. The guide to office posada invitations covers the rest of the workplace version, and the broader Christmas party RSVP guide explains how to handle plus-ones and late changes. All three posada designs are on the posada invitations page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I ask for an RSVP on a posada invitation?

Add a short line after the date and place, such as "Please let us know if you're coming and how many of you, so we can make enough tamales," with a reply-by date.

When should the RSVP deadline be for a posada?

About a week before the posada, and a few days before your tamal order is due. For a posada on December 19, 2026, a deadline of December 13 works well.

How many tamales do I need per guest?

Plan about two to three per adult and one or two per child, then add an extra dozen for unexpected guests.

Why should I ask how many children are coming?

Children usually receive an aguinaldo bag and take turns at the piñata, so you need to know how many bags to fill.

Do guests need an app to reply?

No. They open the link, choose Going, Can't make it or Maybe and add a message, without creating an account. Email is optional.